Cigarette-box



(No Model.

H. WATKINS.

CIGARETTE BOX.

N0. 5'78,669.- Patented Mar. 9, 1897.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD WATKINS, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

CIGARETTE-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,669, dated March 9,1897.

Application filed $eptember 14, 1896. Serial No. 605,753. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD WATKINS, of South Orange, in the county ofEssex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and ImprovedCigarette-Box, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to a class of small portable boxes used forcarrying in a safe and convenient manner cigarettes, cigars, or

matches, and has for its object to provide.

such a device which will embody novel details of construction, whereby acheap and superior box is afforded that may be produced from anyavailable material, such as metal, pasteboard, vulcanite, or celluloid,and be adapted for portage of matches, cigars, or cigarettes, holdingthe contained goods in a safe manner, and also permitting free access tothe contents when this is desired.

The invention essentially consists in the novel details of constructionand combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and indicated inthe claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings-forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved box in opened adjustment.Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an enlarged fragmentary portion ofthe outer section of the improved box at its rear side and lower end.Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the rear edge and lower end onthe inner section of the improved box, showing a novel feature thereon.Fig. at is a normally rear edge view of the improved box in closedcondition; and Fig. 5 is a sectional side view, essentially on the linein Fig. 4, showing the novel interlocked hinge connection of the twoboxsections, that are represented in a closed condition by full linesand in opened adjustment by dotted lines.

The improved box is of a type in which two box-sections are provided,which are placed one within the other, the inner section being adaptedfor a rocking movement on the outer section to expose the contents ofthe two-part box, and it may here be specified that the features of theimprovement essentially consist in the unique hinged connection of thebox-sections and a novel check device to pretion.

vent an excessive swinging movement of the inner box-section whenopened.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates the outer box-section, and 11the inner box-sec- The outer box 10 is substantially rectangular and ofsuitable dimensions for its service. In detail it is constructed asfollows: Two parallel sides a a are held suitably spaced apart by thetop edge wall I) and rear edge Wall 0, that is of less length than theside walls a a and permits an opening d to inter vene between said sidewalls at their lower ends. The opposite or normally front side of thebox-section 10 is open with the exception of a cross-bar e at the lowerend of said section, the use of which will be hereinafter explained.

The box-section 11 is proportioned in dimensions to permit its slidableinsertion within the outer section 10 and adapt it to loosely fittherein, the breadth and length of the inserted section 11 beingslightlyless than that of the outer section 10, so that the latternamedpart will incase the inner section, as best shown in Fig. 5. The innerbox-section 11 is closed on the sides, bottom, and front and rear edges,but is open at the top, and is of reduced length as compared to that ofthe outer box-section, except on the normally front side of said innerbox-section, which front wall 9 extends from the lower end of the outerbox-section 10 to the inner surface of its top wall I) when the two-partbox is in a closed condition, as shown in Fig. 5.

Preferably there is an integral tab or thumbpieoe h formed on the upperend of the wall g, which is outwardly bent and aifords convenient meansfor rocking the inner box-section for a purpose which will appear.

The box sections 10 11 are detachably hinged together on their rearwalls bya novel and peculiar device that is a prominent feature of theinvention, and consists of the following-described construction: Atongue 11 is provided, which is preferably formed integral with the rearwall of the inner box-section 11 by cutting the same loose from thematerial of said wall except at the lower end of the tongue, and thelatter is formed of proper length, having its free end rounded on theedge, as best shown in Fig. 3.

A transverse slot m is formed in the rear wall 0 of the outerbox-section 10, and it will be seen that this slot is slightly nearerone side wall a of said box-section. One edge t" of the tongue t' isconvex-curved, and said tongue trends slightly toward the side of theinner box-section which slot m is nearest to when the box-sections 1O 11are placed together. A notch 2' is cut in the convex edge 2' at a pointwhich is the same distance from the lower end of the tongue t' as is theslot m from the lower edge of the rear wall c, wherein it is formed.

In assembling the parts of the improved box, assuming that the innerbox-section 11 has been introduced within the outer boxsection 10 andpositioned as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, it will be evident thatthe tongue 2' may have its free rounded end readily inserted through theslot on from the outer side of the rear wall 0 and pass up between therear walls of both box-sections until the notch i is reached, which willbe determined by the impinge of the lower termination of the tongue uponthe lower edge of the wall 0. The operator now presses the boxsection 11laterally, so as to enter the adjacent end wall of the slot on withinthe notch which will effect an interlocked and hinged engagement of thetwo box-sections that will permit a free rocking movement of the innerbox-section 11 to open or close the box.

As shown by full lines in Fig. 1 and dotted lines in Fig. 5, the frontedges of the sides a a on box-section 10 are deeply scalloped atopposite points between the top wall b and the cross-bar e; and it willbe seen that when the inner box-section 11 is rocked on its hingedconnection with the outer box-section by the manipulation of the tab hsuch an outward and downward movement of the inner boxsection will bearrested by the cross-bar 6 when the open top of the inner box-sectionis sufficiently exposed for the inspection or removal of the contents ofsaid inner box-section 11, the concavities 02, produced by scallopingthe front edges of the sides a a, conducing to such an exposure.

The peculiar formation of the hinge for the box-sections 1O 11 permitsthe two portions of said box to be quickly connected or detached, and incase pasteboard is employed to manufacture boxes for carrying cigars orcigarettes by the smoker it will be evident that such boxes may berapidly produced and the parts readily assembled as required.

It is evident that the improved box may be manufactured of sheet metalor other avail able material for the reception of the matches that areto be carried by the user. In such a case any suitable catch may beprovided to hold the box-sections in closed adjustment.

WVhile the tongue 2' is preferably formed integral with the box-section11, as has been described, it is apparent that it may be separatelyproduced and attached to the box-section mentioned by any suitablemeans. The provision of the cross-bar e is essential for the efficientoperation of the improved box, as it serves to arrest the openingmovement of the same at a correct point for a convenient removal of someor all of the contents, as before explained.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A portable box, comprising two sections onerockable in the other, and a tongue-andslotconnection between saidsections at one edge of each affording a hinge-joint therefor,substantially as described.

2. A portable box for cigarettes and the like, comprising an outersection having parallel walls, a closed top, open at the bottom andpartly open at the rear edge, the opposite edge being open except at thebottom where a cross-bar is located, the rear wall of said section beingtransversely slotted near its lower edge, the other box-section beinginsertible within the outer section and open at the top, having lesslength than the outer section except the front wall whereon a tab isformed at the upper end, said inner boxsection having a tongue on itsrear wall that is notched on one edge and adapted to detachablyinterlock with the slot of the outer box-section to form a hinge-joint,substantially as described.

3. A cigarette-box or like receptacle, comprising two sections, onerockable in the other, and both detachably connected by a tongueand-slotconnection that affords a hinged joint, the outer section having theforward edges of its side walls scalloped and separated except at thetop and back and bottom, a transverse bar' joining the lower portions ofsaid front edges, and serving as a check to limit the outward rockingmovement of the inner box-section, substantially as described.

4. In a two-part portable box, the combination with an outer box-sectionhaving its rear edge wall of less length than side walls of saidbox-section, leaving an opening therein below said rear wall, the frontof the outer boxsection being open but having a rigid crossbar at thelower ends of its side walls, of an inner box-section having a hingedconnection with the outer box-section at the lower edge of the rear wallof said outer box-section, and limited in its outward rocking movementby contact with the rigid cross-bar on the outer box-section,substantially as described.

5. A box having two sections, one received within the other, one of saidsections having a tongue in removable connection with the other section,such tongue forming a flexible connection between the two sectionswhereon they may swing to open and close the box, substantially asdescribed.

6. A box having two sections, one of which has a tongue capable ofremovable connection with the second section, the tongue forming aflexible connection whereon the two sections may swing to open and closethe box, substantially as described.

7. A box having two sections, one With a slot and the second with atongue, the tongue having a notch in one side and being capable ofmoving laterally to engage said notch with one end of the slot wherebyto flexibly connect the sections, substantially as described.

8. A box having two sections, one of which is received within the other,the innersection having a tongue With a notch in one side and the outersection having a slot receiving the tongue, and the notch of the tonguebeing engaged with one end of the slot, substantially as described.

9. A box having two sections with a hinged connection and received onewithin the other, the outer section having its front side, its bottomand a portion of its rear side open, the

terial of the second section whereby the two sections are pivotallyconnected,substantially as described. I

HOWARD \VATKINS. I

\Vitnesses:

WM. P. PATTON, JNo. M. BITTER.

